Deposit receptacle for newspapers or the like



E. R. ANDlS June 23, 1970 DEPOSIT RECEPTACLE FOR NEWSPAPERS OR THE LIKE INVENTOE 2 E. 2. fiND/j 89- ,Y W ATTORNEY Filed May 27.

United States Patent 3,516,600 DEPOSIT RECEPTACLE FOR NEWSPAPERS OR THE LIKE Ernest R. Andis, 3528 N. Bay Drive, Racine, Wis. 53402 Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,411 Int. Cl. A47g 29/12 US. Cl. 23217 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A receptacle for receiving newspapers, magazines or the like from a postman or newsboy and without the necessity for the deliverer to stop in order to place the newspaper in the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY 'OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a tubular receptacle for receiving and holding newspapers or the like and includes a horizontally pivoted trap door which swings open as the newspaper is swung against it from the side and into the receptacle. The door has a delivery indicating flag attached thereto which not only provides a visible signal to indicate delivery of the paper but the flag also acts as a counterweight for the door and urges the door against the paper after the latter has been inserted in the receptacle, thereby holding the paper firmly in place. To remove the paper, the door can be easily swung out of binding engagement with the paper. The invention also contemplates that the receptacle has a pair of flanges ad: jacent the receptacle opening and which flare outwardly from the opening and in opposite directions to insure accuracy and ease of delivery of the paper into the receptacle and without requiring the delivery man to stop. Still another aspect of the invention relates to the trap door and flag pivotal connection to the receptacle which requires no screws, bolts or separate hinges.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle made in accordance with the present invention and showing a newspaper about to be inserted therein;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the newspaper in the receptacle and held there by the trap door;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the receptacle as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 4 and showing the rear hinge joint.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The receptacle R is mounted along the delivery route and on a support such as a post 1 at an elevation convenient to the delivery man, such as about 42 inches from the ground.

The receptacle is preferably formed from sheet steel and the main body portion 2 is generally tubular, for example, circular in cross section, and is elongated and cylindrical in shape and positioned in a horizontal position. The generally cylindrically shaped receptacle has an elongated opening 3 extending along its length and located at the side of the receptacle from which the delivery man normally approaches the receptacle while making his rounds.

The rear end 5 of the receptacle is closed by a cap 6 fixed thereon, while the front end 7 of the receptacle is open to permit the paper to pass freely through the opening 3 when being delivered and permitting the paper to extend outwardly from one end thereof.

A bracket means 8 is rigidly secured to the receptacle by which it can be attached to the support post 1.

A series of holes 10 are located along the bottom of the receptacle to permit draining of the receptacle.

A pair of flanges 11 and 12 extend from the receptacle in an outwardly diverging manner, one flange being located along each side of opening 3 and extending for the length of the receptacle. These flanges which flare outwardly away from one another thus form a wide mouth guide chute for guiding the paper into the receptacle as the paper is swung in a generally horizontal path by the delivery man as he rapidly passes by the receptacle. The wide mouth formed by the elongated flanges provides an easy target for the delivery man and insures entry of the paper into the receptacle.

A swinging trap door 15 is positioned across the opening 3 and extends generally for the length of the opening and normally hangs in a vertical direction to close the opening 3.

The door is pivoted at two points along its top edge to the receptacle as follows.

Extensions 16 and 17 are formed at the top side of the door, one at each end thereof, these extensions extending through slots 18 and 19, respectively, which are formed in the receptacle at the juncture between the top flange 11 and the main cylindrical body portion 2. The rear extension 17 is then turned over and downwardly to overlie an upwardly turned flange 21 formed along slot 19 of the receptacle. This forms a simple hinge joint which permits free swinging of the door.

A flag 22 is attached to the front extension 16 of the door and holds the front end of the door in swinging position in the receptacle. The flag extends at an angle from the door and generally to one side when the door is closed, indicating that there is nothing in the receptacle. When a paper is located in the receptacle, causing the door to be open, then the flag extends generally vertically thus providing a good visual indication that delivery has been made.

With the present invention, the delivery man can more easily and quickly make his deliveries, and without stopping or even appreciably slowing down. The delivered paper is tightly held in position by the door which is biased to the closed position and in binding relationship against the paper by gravity action. The paper is easily freed by pushing the flag downwardly, thus opening the door.

I claim:

1. An elongated and generally tubular deposti receptacle for newspapers or the like and adapted to be positioned in a generally horizontal position along a delivery route, said receptacle comprising, means for rigidly securing said receptacle to a support, an elongated tubular body having an open end and an opening along one side of its length; an upper and a lower flange extending from and along the length of said body, one along each side of said opening, said flanges diverging outwardly from said body to form a wide mouth guide chute for guiding a newspaper or the like through said opening and into said body; a door swingably mounted on said body and normally hanging vertically in a closed position across said opening and having its lower edge abutting against the lower internal surface of said body to close the opening; said door being pivotally connected to said body at the juncture of said body and one of said flanges; a flag attached to said door and extending at an inclination therefrom to thereby bias the door to said closed position by gravity; whereby a newspaper or the like can be moved 4 in a generally horizontal direction, through said guide chute, against said door to open the latter, and deposited in said receptacle for holding engagement by said biased door.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,842,501 1/1932 Betz 23217 1,904,448 4/1933 Hampden et a1. 2321.3 2,485,707 10/1949 Cummins 2321.3 2,807,409 9/1957 Gieseler 232-33 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner 

